Dispenser



June 26, 1934.

E. G. WESSMAN 1,964,335

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuentoc Eda/2h 1 i lisam an/ June 26, 1934. E. G. WESSMAN 1,964,335

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 6, 1930 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qwuwntoc Edd/Z72 6 Wasdman/ June 26, 1934. E. WE-SSMAN DISPENSER Filed Dec. 6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 J 3 1 1 a 1 v\\+\\\\\\\\\ a L ,E'dwzh Wasmaz Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER Application December 6, 1930, Serial No. 500,640

3 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers and more particularly to such a. device for dispensing receptacles such as paper cups or the like adapted for but a single use, the principal object of the invention residing in the provision of a dispenser of the character described in which a stack of nested receptacles is supported and enclosed in a dome or housing, means being provided for ejecting the terminal l0 receptacle and delivering the same into a convenient position to be grasped by a person.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a novel form of base or support for the dome or housing and the stack of receptacles,

the base carrying the ejecting mechanism, said ejecting mechanism including a lever projecting from the base and in a convenient position for operation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a dispenser having a novel ejecting mechanism including a swinging frame member carrying spring pressed pawls which are adapted to be engaged with a flange or lip formed on the receptacle to positively withdraw the terminal receptacle from the stack and allow the same to drop into engagement with suitable supporting means from which it may be removed by a person, the pawls being formed in such a manner that as the swinging frame returns to its normal position they will ride over the flange or lip of the terminal receptacle remaining within the stack and allow the pawls to be positioned above the lip or flange so that on a further movement of the frame in operating direction the terminal receptacle will be removed.

A still further object of the invention consists in the provision of a swinging frame adapted to be operated to eject the terminal receptacle from the stack and novel means for detachably supelO porting the frame in the base of the dispenser,

the frame with the cooperating parts of the ejecting means being adapted for removal from the base or attachment thereto as a unitary structure.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the complete dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the base of the dispenser showing one of the receptacles after being dispensed supported in position to be removed by a person.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the base of the dispenser and a portion of the housing or dome with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the base and a portion of the dome or housing, with parts shown in elevation, this section being at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. 7iJ

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the base anda portion of the dome or housing with portions of the base broken away to show interior construction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the supporting hook or member for receiving the ejecting receptacle.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the base with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing a modified form of base used in connection with my dispenser.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental side elevation of the modified form of invention disclosed in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmental side elevation of the base shown in Figs. 10 and 11 with parts shown in vertical section.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a still further modified form of my invention.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on the line 14-44 of Fig. 13 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical section through the base and a portion of the housing shown in Fig. 13, the housing being in the form of a carton in which the receptacles are initially packed, and parts of the base being shown in side elevation.

In'the drawings 1 indicates a base having a vertically extending opening therein and supporting the dome or housing indicated at 2, the upper end of the dome or housing being closed whereas the lower end is open to communicate with the vertically extending opening through the base. Secured to the lower end of the dome 1 or housing 2, by means of plaster of Paris 3 or other suitable material is a band 4, preferably of metal, having at its upper edge an outwardly directed flange 5 and on its lower edge an inwardly directed flange 6, the inner surface of U the flange 6 being beveled as shown at '7 with the inner edge 8 extending inwardly of the internal diameter of the dome or housing and beneath the lower end of the dome or housing as shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings and for a purpose which will be later apparent. The base 1 is formed interiorly with the shoulder 9 which limits the downward movement of the dome or housing relative to the base, the outwardly directed flange of the band 4 extending over and engaging the upper edge of the base.

The lower portion of the base is of what may be termed double wall formation, the inner wall 10 being cylindrical in shape and the outer wall 11 being of the formation shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings with its forward end terminating slightly forward of the vertical central axis of the inner wall 10. The walls 10 and 11 provide a compartment 12 for the ejecting frame to be later described and extending rearwardly from the base is an arm 13 which is of dove-tail formation to be received in the dove-tail recess 14 of a supporting bracket 15 which is secured to a wall or other support by means of the screws 16 or other suitable fastenings. The arm 13 is of hollow formation as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings with the upper end closed by the integrally formed top 17 and the lower end closed by means of a plate 18 secured to the lower surface of the arm by means of the screws 19 or other suitable fastenings. Formed in the top surface of the plate 18 are the recesses 20 which form a bearing for the ejector frame to be later described. Formed as a part of the plate 18, or secured thereto in any suitable manner, is a hook member 21 which will normally be positioned beneath the vertically extending opening in the base to receive and support the article dispensed, the lower forward edge of the base being formed with the recessed portion 22 to facilitate the removal of the article from the hook member in a manner to be later described.

Extending inwardly from the inner wall 10 of the base are the circumferentially spaced vertically extending ribs 23 at the lower end of each of which is an inwardly extending projection 24 the upper surface of which is beveled as shown at 25. The stack of receptacles 26 is supported on the projections 24 and the ribs 23 properly position the receptacles within the base. Each of the receptacles is provided at its open end with an outwardly directed bead or lip 27 and as shown in the drawings the receptacles are positioned in the stack with their open ends downward so that the bead or lip 27 of the terminal receptacle may be engaged by the ejecting mechanism, to be later described, and withdrawn from the stack, the receptacle as it drops being caught by the hook member 21 and supported thereby. It will be understood that the hook member 21 will engage interiorly of the receptacle through the open mouth portion thereof. The user may readily remove the receptacle from the hook portion by pulling the same upwardly and outwardly, the recessed portion 22 of the base facilitating the removal of the receptacle from the hook. As will be understood the stack of receptacles extends into the dome or housing 2 and preferably a follower 28 will be supported on the upper end of the stack to feed the stack downwardly and to hold the upper end of the stack against swinging movement within the dome or housing. As the follower forms no part of the present invention but forms a basis of an application executed of even date, herewith, a further detail description thereof will not be given. JI-he inner edge of the flange 6 at the lower end of the dome or housing 2, extending inwardly of the internal diameter of the dome or housing will prevent the follower 28 from passing through the lower end of the dome or housing although the diameter of the flange is such as will allow the receptacles to readily pass therethrough.

For ejecting the receptacles I provide the swinging frame 29 which operates, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, within the compartment 12 formed by the walls 10 and 11 of the base. The frame is provided at one side with an outwardly extending arm 30 which extends through a vertically extending opening 31 formed in the base and on the outer end of this arm 30 is formed an enlarged finger engaging portion 32 which will be engaged by a person desiring to remove a receptacle and for operating the swinging frame. The frame is of semicircular formation and at the rear portion is provided with the downwardly extending ears or projections 33 which are received in the bear-' ing recesses 20 of the plate 18 and cooperating to form a pivotal connection between the base and frame. Extending rearwardly from the frame is a lug 34 having an upwardly extending projection 35 which extends into the lower end of a spring 36 which engages the lug 34, the opposite end of the spring being received within a recess 37 formed interiorly of the arm 13 as shown more particularly in Fig. 9 of the drawings. This spring will tend to normally hold the forward end of the frame upwardly with the upper edge of the arm 30 in engagement with the upper edge of the slot 31. Extending upwardly from the frame, and in alignment with the lug 34 is a projection 38 which, as the forward end of the frame is swung downwardly, will engage a vertically extending rib 39 formed exteriorly of the inner wall 10 of the base, this engagement limiting the downward swinging movement of the forward end of the frame in an ejecting movement.

At the ends of the frame are the opposed upwardly extending projections 40 each of which is provided with an elongated opening 41 in which is pivotally connected at 42 a pawl 43.

The vertically extending portion of each of the pawls is provided with the oppositely directed flanges 44 which, as shown more parti ularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings engage the outer face of the frame to limit the inwardly swinging movement of the pawls. The horizontally extending portions 45 of the pawls extend through vertically extending openings 46 formed in the inner wall 10 of the base and are adapted for slidable movement therein. The upper faces of the horizontally extending portions of the pawls are inwardly and downwardly inclined so as to provide relatively narrow ends on the horizontal portions of the pawls adapted to be normally received between the lips or flanges 27 of adjacent receptacles in the stack, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Secured to the outer face of the frame 29 by means of the rivets 47 or other suitable fastenings, is a spring 48, the

ends of which bear against the outer faces of the vertically extending portions of the pawls 43 as shown at 49. This spring normally tends to urge the horizontally extending portions of the pawls inwardly to the position shown in Fig.

4 of the drawings but the spring is of sufficient resiliency to allow the pawls to swing outwardly as the frame is raised to allow the ends of the horizontal portions of the pawls to ride over the lip or bead of the terminal receptacle.

Having fully described the form of my inven tion disclosed in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings it is thought that the operation will be clearly understood. The base 1 is secured to a wall or other suitable support by means of the bracket 15 and a stack of nested receptacles is introduced into the dome or housing 2, while the housing or dome is removed from the base, and when the housing or dome is then positioned with its lower end received in the base the lowermost or terminal receptacle will rest upon the beveled projections 24 formed interiorly of the base and the stack will be thus supported with the open mouth portions of the receptacles positioned down- Wardly. When ready for use the ends of the horizontal portions 45 of the pawls will be positioned between the beads or lips formed around the mouth portions of adjacent receptacles as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 and when the user desires a receptacle, in the present instance,

- a paper cup, he presses on the finger portion 32 of the arm 30 of the frame 29 and this lowers the forward ends of the frame which carry the pawls 43 downwardly and as the pawls do not yield in this movement by engaging the lip or bead of the terminal receptacle the receptacle will be flexed to pass the projections 24 and be allowed to drop from the stack and be received on the hook member 21 from which it may in turn be removed by the user. As the finger piece 32 is released the coiled spring 36, which has been compressed during the ejecting movement returns the frame to its normal position and in its movement to this position the pawls 43 will be swung out- Wardly due to the engagement of the ends of the horizontal portions thereof with the lip or bead of the terminal receptacle remaining in the stack which has dropped upon the projections 24. After the ends of the pawls ride over the head or lip of the terminal receptacle the pawls will be returned to their original position, shown in Fig.

4, by the spring 48. I have provided a novel means for connecting the frame within the base of the dispenser, this means being the plate 18 which is detachably connected to the base by 1 means of the screws 19 or other suitable fastenings, the plate 13 having the bearing recesses 20 which receive the projections 33 depending from the rear of the frame. When the plate 18 is removed the frame with the pawls and spring may be removed as a unitary structure. The coiled spring 36 holds the frame in its desired position for ejecting purposes and in the ejecting movement the spring will be compressed to return the frame to its original position after the ejection of the receptacle. The base of the dispenser is formed in a novel manner so that the ejecting mechanism is out of view and is protected against damage. The only part of the ejecting mechanism which projects is a portion of the arm 30 and the finger engaging pawls 32 which is conveniently positioned to be engaged by the operator.

In Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modified form of my invention in which the hook member 21 is eliminated and in which I provide what may be term-ed a three point suspension for the receptacle as it is ejected and dropped from the stack. In this form of the invention the plate 18 which secures the swinging frame within the base will not have the depending hook member formed thereon. As the dispensing mechanism carried by the base is of the same construction and operation as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive a detailed illustration thereof has not been made in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive. In the construction shown in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive a depending member 50 extends from the lower end of the inner wall 10 of the base with its front edges spaced apart as shown more particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings and the lower ends of the spaced edges bent inwardly as shown at 51 to form a restricted opening at the lower end of the member, said opening being of a width as to prevent passage of the body of r the receptacle therethrough. A hook 52 is formed on the lower edge of the member 50, adjacent the back thereof, and is adapted to receive the beaded or lip end of the receptacle when it is dropped or ejected from the stack, the position of the ejected receptacle being quite clearly shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. With the edge of the receptacle engaged by the hook 52 the receptacle will be positioned at an angle shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and 12 with the body of the receptacle engaged by the inturned portions 51. When positioned as disclosed the receptacle may be removed by the user by grasping with the finger.

In Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive I have shown a still further modified form of the invention in which a base of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive is illustrated with the exception that the top opening therein is square in cross section instead of round. With this construction the glass dome or housing illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive is eliminated and in place thereof I use the pasteboard carton 53 in which the receptacles are packed and shipped as a housing for the stack of receptacles. With this construction the user merely removes the closure from one end of the carton and places the end of the carton within the square opening of the base, it of course, being understood that that end of the carton will be removed which will allow the open mouth portions of the receptacle to be positioned downwardly.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser including a support for a stack of articles to be dispensed, means for removing the terminal article from the stack and to allow the same to drop therefrom, and means for catching and supporting the dropped article, said last mentioned means including a member depending from the stack support and provided with inturned edge portions to engage the sides of the article and a hook to engage the rim thereof.

2. A dispenser including a support for a stack of articles to be dispensed, a frame pivotally mounted in the support for swinging movement, said frame having openings formed therein, and members pivotally mounted in the openings and adapted to be engaged with the terminal article of the stack for removing the same upon operation of the frame, said members having projecting side flanges adapted to engage the frame on opposite sides of the openings for limiting the inward movement of the members.

3. A dispenser including a support for a stack of articles to be dispensed, a portion of the support being of double wall construction to provide a compartment, an arm carried by the support and having a recess leading from the lower surface thereof, a frame mounted within the compartment and having a portion extending into the recess of the arm, a plate detachably connected to the arm for closing the lower opening 7 therein and for forming a bearing for mounting the frame, means engageable with the extension of the frame which leads into the recess of EDl/VIN G. WESSMAN. 

